Civil Rights Movement and U.S. Historical Context

These flashcards cover key topics from the Civil Rights Movement and significant historical events in the United States, focusing on important legislation, movements, and ideological shifts.

What was the primary goal of the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s to 1970s?

To end racial segregation and discrimination, secure legal protections, and gain equal citizenship rights for African Americans.

What was the significance of the NAACP in the Civil Rights Movement?

The NAACP used legal challenges to fight segregation and discrimination, focusing on lawsuits and the 14th Amendment.

What landmark case did the NAACP achieve to support desegregation in schools?

Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which ended legal racial segregation in public schools.

What was the outcome of the Birmingham Campaign in 1963?

The violent police response to peaceful protests shifted public opinion and pressured the federal government, contributing to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

What did the Albany Movement aim to achieve?

To end all forms of segregation at once through mass nonviolent protest.

How did the SCLC's strategy in Chicago differ from its activities in the South?

In Chicago, the SCLC focused on housing segregation and economic inequality, demonstrating that racism also existed in Northern cities.

What was the main impact of the St. Augustine campaign in 1964?

It highlighted the violence against nonviolent protesters and helped build momentum for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Who founded the Black Panther Party and what were its key focuses?

Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded the BPP, focusing on community survival programs and criticism of police brutality.

What was one of the objectives of the Poor People’s Campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr. after 1965?

To advocate for economic justice for all races.

What critical change in strategy occurred after the victory of Brown v. Board of Education?

The movement shifted toward mass protests and direct action, recognizing that court rulings alone were insufficient.

What was the Dawes Act and what were its consequences?

The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal land into individual allotments, resulting in significant loss of tribal land and cultural erosion.

What significant event led the U.S. to enter WWII against Japan?

The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

What were the goals of the U.S. occupation of Japan after WWII?

Demilitarization, democratization, and economic & social reform.